Leopard VS Lagoon

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by Jeannius

You just need to do a bit of lateral thinking to deal with that problem.

I wanted to set my boat up so that the main could be brought down completely without leaving the cockpit. Simple solution was to attach a line to the same shackle as the main halyard, attach a block at the base of the mast and run the line back to a clutch near the sheet winch beside the helm. I called this line a downhaul but I know it is not what a downhaul is normally used for. Then when I need to drop the main, let go the halyard and then if it doesn't come all the way down haul on the 'downhaul' to bring it the rest of the way. Worked every time even downwind with 40+ knots of wind in the sail.

I'm surprised none of the Lagoon owners haven't already chimed in. I still don't like the idea of not being able to lay my hands on the sail.

I do like your clever "downhaul" solution. Any downside to your "downhaul"?.... like slap or chaffing while the sail is raised?

[Bean Counter]

We have the down haul fittings installed - never needed to use it. I just use a long extended boat hook to pull down on a batten car, very fast and very easy, never been a problem in 4 years full time cruising. Have even done it down wind. I feel no need to visit the boom at sea, (except for 3rd reef at gooseneck which I can reach (180cm) and I don't have to worry too much about getting belted by the boom or the mainsheet system when gybing or swinging in sloppy seas, one of the main causes of injuries and fatalities on a sail boat. The only PITA is putting the top sun cover over the sail bag - it takes 5 minutes when a zip would take 1. I have seen a remote zipper system - will get one - one day.

[Jeannius]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

I'm surprised none of the Lagoon owners haven't already chimed in. I still don't like the idea of not being able to lay my hands on the sail.

I do like your clever "downhaul" solution. Any downside to your "downhaul"?.... like slap or chaffing while the sail is raised?

At first I did worry that if the main came a long way down on its own then I'd end up with a large amount of line flapping around that could get caught on something. This never happened in the nearly 30,000 nm we did with the setup so, no, no downside at all.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

forward cockpit .

They dont have a forward cockpit, they have a forward lounge. No sail handling or other significant boat operation can be done from that lounge area

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by Factor

They dont have a forward cockpit, they have a forward lounge. No sail handling or other significant boat operation can be done from that lounge area

the cockpit is the lounge area of a cat, operated it is from the helm (sport bridge, fly bridge or whatever holds the rudder, instruments and the winches) and some have remote controls on the chart table inside.

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

I'm surprised none of the Lagoon owners haven't already chimed in. I still don't like the idea of not being able to lay my hands on the sail.

I do like your clever "downhaul" solution. Any downside to your "downhaul"?.... like slap or chaffing while the sail is raised?

on the L400 the boom is easyly accessible on the roof of the salon, no problem ar all.
I use a short rope to secure the sail / main halyard to the mast when the sail is down.

Easy to pack the lazyback off the starboard salon roof.

[smj]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

the cockpit is the lounge area of a cat, operated it is from the helm (sport bridge, fly bridge or whatever holds the rudder, instruments and the winches) and some have remote controls on the chart table inside.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit_(sailing)


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[boatingnewbie]

Originally Posted by rabbi

48-50 ft cat for a newbie? Good luck! I started off with 41ft and that was plenty

Btw: if buying new maybe check the lead times for new boats. For some models it may be way longer that you would expect

I'm currently considering a Leopard 45, 48, or 50. I'd prefer a 1-3 year old Cat as I know there's along waiting period for a new build. At the moment, the 45 seems to be at the top of the list.

[boatingnewbie]

Originally Posted by peterp

The new Leopard 40 is a lot of boat in my view as well, the Lagoon 42 is also worth considering, my final thoughts for a newbie is 45 is about as big as you should go unless you can afford a crew then that 50 footer looks real cool.

Good feedback, thanks.

As of now, I have been learning more towards a Leopard 45.

[Bean Counter]

Originally Posted by boatingnewbie

Good feedback, thanks.

As of now, I have been learning more towards a Leopard 45.

Looks like an ok boat. What aspects of it make it more appealing than the competition? Might we a while before a second hand one shows up.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by smj

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit_(sailing)


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Oh goodie, duelling definitions


Who ya gonna believe, Wikipedia or a Dictionary?


https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cockpit
"a sunken, open area, generally in the after part of a small vessel, as a yacht, providing space for the pilot, part or all of the crew, or guest"

[Mick C]

Originally Posted by boatingnewbie

I'm currently considering a Leopard 45, 48, or 50. I'd prefer a 1-3 year old Cat as I know there's along waiting period for a new build. At the moment, the 45 seems to be at the top of the list.

Hi there. We came to the same conclusion but a used Leopard 45 will be a couple of years off given they are a 2018 boat. We have decided to go new in a syndicate here in Australia. I love the 45nfeatures.
Mick

[boatingnewbie]

Originally Posted by Bean Counter

Looks like an ok boat. What aspects of it make it more appealing than the competition? Might we a while before a second hand one shows up.

I really like Leopard's forward cockpit area (or whatever you want to call it). I also like some of the other things that Leopard does that some of the others don't (like flush hatches on the deck, etc.), I also like their more recent interiors. Leopard also does some nice things where the boat is set-up for single-handed. So many different things that appeal to me more than the others are this point -- I'm still in the research phase.

[boatingnewbie]

Originally Posted by Mick C

Hi there. We came to the same conclusion but a used Leopard 45 will be a couple of years off given they are a 2018 boat. We have decided to go new in a syndicate here in Australia. I love the 45nfeatures.
Mick

It's my understanding that the New Leopard 45 was actually introduced in mid 2016. So we might be seeing some used ones hit the market over the next year or so.

Leopard released this video walk-through of it in August 2016:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QMBYOXS3o8

[arsenelupiga]

my wife had a look at leopard and it was all over in less than 5 min.
Forgot the reasons. So it was for most of other brands. Felt truly sorry for salesman's egos.

Easy for me, could concentrate to only few (1) brand.

And as old people used to say, it is the driver, not the boat that makes boat perform